Game Set and Match

It has, to be game, set and match for Emily Raducanu’s career. Emily ghosted to the 2021 USA Slam title to shock the sporting world with the time beyond pea souped into a fog of nothing. Was it a fluke? The imposter of tennis fallen off the radar at an alarming rate, a career ending definer has to be the case, doesn’t it? A resurrection of one’s career? There’s no signs of that, with one lame excuse after another.

Raducanu has become the annoying mosquito who is lack lustre buzzing around the tennis tour for her own gratification. Raducanu the HSBC global brand ambassador, credibility on the court shot to bits, off the court the sky’s the rocket to rake in millions on the back of abject failure, one Grand Slam title is no rise to the sporting pantheons, lifting trophies has to be repeated and repeated, Emily’s single crown trophy in the turbulence of the Covid 19 time span with no spectators in attendance equating to less match intensity alongside being locked into the easier side of the draw, a youthful jolly, swing free and easy, a fluke? Seems to be the case, the Manero myth buster to claim a major sporting trophy can be fluked, confirmed.

Raducanu to appear on promotional ads, but not on the tennis courts with any great regularity. To suggest one’s training regime is not of the required level, hence the Raducanu quote “Injuries and criticism can feel like a constant battle”. The Manero response, the battlefield begins with the training, enter it. A withdrawal from the French Open hits the claim of the claimer Manero, to succeed on the French clay buckets of sweat has to be spilled with endurance fitness, neither on the ER plate. The Wimbledon Crown plater Tim Henman offers one’s support, no need to be Tim but dim on this one Tim. Raducanu has credited her team for helping building resilience to fall in line with another racquet adventure sign posted to a new HSBC film but no signs to the tennis court, there goes that racquet bullshit again, it’s game, set and match on Emily Raducanu’s career?

Fury Usyk the Showdown

Into flashback mode, the Fury, Usyk showdown lets get ready to rumble, the wind was recited in the Saudi’s sand driven sails, a wind of change to unify the heavyweight division, a twenty year impasse since the Lennox Lewis era. The reported 50 million post tax winger enforced the Fury to dodge any more suspect sparing claims and cheque driven to enter the ring with Usyk, a smell of reluctance on Fury’s part wafted from the background vibe.

Fury looking leaner and glowing with a bronze dapper, glowing in the Saudi midday sun. Who switched the light bulbs on? Fury Morecambe based devoid of sun in those parts hence the tan? Tyson had Cleary devoted oneself to one’s training regime, whistling in the huddled corner are the titled the three charges, trainer Sugar Hill (coated), the fighting man John Fury and the cut man to be trusted? Reverberating inside the eardrums of Tyson deep deep down, a frenzy condition perhaps another lap dog excuse to avoid Usyk, but not on this occasion.

The Usyk landed in Saudi some time later calm as a cucumber on a good salad day, an imposing figure, the eyes are the daggers, Usyk cracking on that his English is limited but Manero spotted in an earlier interview on an obscure poddy type cast speaking the mother’s tongue English, the reason to avoid engaging with Fury at the pre-fight press conferences, no audience for Tyson squashed. Fury pre-fight looked edgy, nervous, subdued, a failed attempt at raising the verbals to a higher decibel held no court, Usyk could not speak English? Tysson became more conscious of the task he was facing with the Usyk presence close by. In between was brick top promoter Frank Warren sitting proud as Punch with the pay ticket, Frank’s porky pies and all that.

Into the fight with the general consensure being that most of the early rounds went to Fury, but some claimed different, the sixth round and beyond belonged to Usyk that’s not in doubt. The much vaulted deciding round twelve became the deciding factor in the raising of one’s arm, Usyk on the split points decision the unified generational Heavyweight Champion of our times, Fury blasting away, Usyk razor sharp. The second rated definer of round nine clouded Fury’s judgement with Usyk’s barrage of punches blowing the Fury gas tops, Fury bouncing from rope to rope orbited into another zone with the Ukrainian in the controlled frenzy zone landing blow after blow seeking the knockout blow, the referee put paid to that indicating to Usyk to step back, a standing count for Fury, the rings of the bell a sweltering breath away, ding ding Fury saved from more punishment and an inevitable knock out, Tyson recovered as only Fury does to see out the fight but to no avail.

Gladiators in arms they became, respect given in both corners, both fighters visibly bruised and battered, their endurance was remarkable, brave in heart, brave in soul, brave in emotion, they gave it their all. The promotors sniffing around like hungry dogs, let’s get the re-match on looking to feather their nests, date set 21^st Dec for the Usyk Fury showdown 2, the watching world is salivating for more Usyk to seal the deal a second time to substantiate the claimer to the general fighter in the ring of the kings, the chariots await you.

Boxing’s Streaming Farce

The king on the boxing block illegal streaming with 95 million pounds being sucked out of the rights holders, a thorn bush in Eddie Hearns and Frank Warrens prickly dresses loot flying out of the window, those tears of laughter, dab the clown’s makeup, give us a smile thumbs up Eddie, Frank, why not indeed. Your loot’s gone.

45 percent of the illegal trading to Europe followed by 25 percent to North America, the two big hitters, onto the plane you jet setters track them down those 20 million people streaming illegally, any signs Frank, Eddie it’s all slipped through those greasy fingers, there’s always her excellency to thank for another pay day, 21^st December Usyk v Fury, see you there?

Streamed

Stream me for your boxing pleasure, stream me for the boxing pain, stream the Frank and Eddie’s purses, streamed.

Time to up the Ante

Follow Manero on X (Twitter) the 2024-25 season will feature Manero’s post-match analysis on selected weekend Premiership matches, Euro 2024 Manero post-match analysis England v Denmark and Slovenia follow Manero on YouTube, 3 videos currently on YouTube, one a month to feature, accessible on the mobile phone.